Capsule counter



R. H. WILLIAMS CAPSULE COUNTER Dec. 20, 1949 Filed May 19, 1947 .ffzawajam flMQWMJ/MYQFm d W Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED" STATES PATIENT 0 F FICE 4 Claims.

The dnvention relates generally to a devic'e for holding and counting articles, and morepaiiticularly to a device for supporting and facilitating the counting of capsules.

The present invention has among its objects theproduction of a'device adapted to receive. and support a plurality of capsules, and is so constructed that the number of capsules in the device may be readily determined. The device is of particular use to apharmacist, or'other person engaged infilling capsules for prescriptions, etc, so that in filling a prescription of a predetermined number of capsules the user :may readily ascertain th'enumber of capsules thathave been filled as well "as providin'gmeans 'for supporting the filled capsules.

.Another object of the invention is "the production of such a device which may be used inconnectionwith all sizes'of capsules commonly used in filling prescriptions, which device is very simple in constructionrand inexpensive to manufacture.

.A further object of the invention is the produdtion of such a device fromwhich the filled capsules may be readily removed without turning the device upside down, thus-eliminating the possibility of spilling orscattering them.

Many otherobjects and advantagesof the construction herein shown and described will be "obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this endmy invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and morepanticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In filling a prescription of a predetermined number of capsules, the pharmacist or'other person oftentimes is interrupted during the filling operation, whereby it may be difficult to keep count of the'number of capsules that have been filledand the additional number of capsules that must be :fillied to complete the particular prescription. Consequently, much time may be saved by use of the present invention as the number of capsules supported the device is readily apparent at all times.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like -'or corresponding parts:

Fig. lis atop planview of a device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a seotion'al'view taken approximately on the line 2-2 oiFig. 1.; and

.Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig.12'but with the device in an inverted position.

Referring to Fig. l, the embodiment -="oT the a; in)

invention illustrated comprises a rectangular board orsheet t, of relatively thin material, .having atplura lityiof apertures 2 extending there.- through, the apertures being of a diameter slightly greater than :the. diameter ofthe largest capsule commonly used. As illustrated in Fig. 1,. the apertures 2 are arranged in horizontal and vertical rows and are divided into four groups, with the distance between the apertures of ad'- jeac'ent groups greater than the. distance between apertures of the same. group, to form dividing strips or portions 3 between the respective groups. In the embodiment illustrated each group comprises five rows, each of which contains five apertureaiso that each group-contains twenty-five apertures, and the device illustrated contains a total :of one hundred apertures.

Carried by the rectangular board I and extending along the peripheral edges of the latter are respective side members 4, the latter in the present instance being formed from separate strips of material, each having a channel or groove. 5 in the inner face thereof in which is positioned the respective peripheral edges of the board 1, the respective elements being glued, or otherwise suitably secured together. It will be apparentthat while I have shown the members 4 each separately formed and suitably secured to the board I, obviously the members 4 may be integr'ally formed with the board I, as for example, by molding the entire device from plastic or other suitable material. The peripheral flange, or rim tormed by the members 4 provides means for supporting the board I in spaced relation with respect to a supporting surface upon which the members'cl may be positioned, and it'will be noted that the membersd extend outwardly a greater distance from the face A of the board lthan from the opposite face B thereof. Thus, when the device is positioned upon a supporting surface with the faceAgupwardthe, board I will be po'sitioned relatively close to the supporting surface, and by inverting the device as illustrated in Fig. 3' with the face B upward, the board :I may be positioned a r'greater distance from the supporting surface. Theserelativedistances-are so proportioned that when positioned as illustrated in. Fig. 2 with the face A up, relatively small 'capsules, as indicated in dotted lines, may be inserted in the apertures 2 where they will rest upon the supporting surface and be laterally supported by the board 1-, while larger capsules may be readily accommodated by inverting the device, as -ill-ustratcd in .Fi'g. thereby raising the board withxrespect'to the supporting surface as provide adequate lateral support for the larger capsules. This reversible construction permits the device to be used with capsules running from the smallest to the largest sizes most commonly employed, both as to capsule diameter and capsule lengths.

In use the device is placed upon a suitable supporting surface, with the face A up if small capsules are being used, or the face B up if larger capsules are being used. If desired a cloth or sheet of other material may be interposed between the supporting surface and the device, and as the capsules are filled they are inserted into the apertures 2, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. If, for example twenty-five capsules are to be filled it is merely necessary to fill one group of apertures to arrive at the proper number of capsules. Likewise, if the number of capsules required is not a multiple of twentyfive, the odd number of capsules over a multiple of twenty-five may be counted out in one of the groups of apertures and a capsule inserted in the last aperture to indicate the number of apertures to be filled in this particular group. For example, assuming forty capsules to be filled, the pharmacist immediately knows that he must fill one group of apertures plus fifteen apertures of a second group, which would comprise the three top rows of the second group, and by inserting the first capsule filled in the fifteenth hole of the second group, the total number of holes to be employed in filling the prescription becomes readily apparent. Obviously, if during the filling operation the work is interrupted and must be left, he will upon resuming the filling operation, readily know how many capsules must still be filled to complete the prescription. If desired, to facilitate insertion of the capsules in the apertures 2, the edges of the board I adjacent the apertures may be beveled slightly as indicated at 5.

After the required number of capsules have been filled, the latter may b readily removed from the device merely by raising the same off of the supporting surface, whereby the capsules will fall out of the device onto the cloth or other material spread upon the supporting surface, in which cloth the capsules may be readily gathered up. and wiped off. It will be apparent that with this construction there is no possibility of spilling or scattering the capsules, as might be the case where the capsules merely rest upon the holder which would have to be tilted or inverted to remove the capsules therefrom.

It will be apparent from the disclosur above given that I have provided a very simple and very efiicient device for holding capsules and facilitating the counting thereof, and which is so constructed that it may be employed with a wide range of capsule sizes.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. In a device for supporting and facilitating the counting of capsules, the combination of a substantially flat capsule receiving board of relatively thin materiaL; having a plurality of apertures therein, each adapted to receive a capsule,

and supporting means extending outwardly from each face of said board for supporting the latter in spaced relation relative to a supporting surface on which the device may be positioned, with either face up, whereby capsules inserted in the apertures may rest upon the supporting surface and be laterally supported by said board, the supporting means on one side of the latter being shorter than the supporting means on the other side thereof whereby the board may be selectively spaced at either of two different distances from the supporting surface, for supporting capsules of different lengths.

2. In a device for supporting and facilitating the counting of capsules, the combination of a substantially fiat rectangular capsule receiving board of relatively thin material, having a plurality of apertures therein, and peripheral supporting members adjacent each edge of the board and extending outwardly from each face of said board for supporting the latter in spaced relation relative to a supporting surface on which the device may be positioned, with either face up, whereby capsules inserted in the apertures will rest upon the supporting surface and be laterally supported by said board, the portions of the sup porting members on one side of the board being shorter than the portions of supporting members on the other side thereof whereby the board may be selectively spaced at either of two different distances from the supporting surface, for supporting capsules of different lengths.

3. In a device for supporting and facilitating the counting of capsules, the combination of a substantially flat rectangular capsule receiving board of relatively thin material, having a plurality of apertures therein, each adapted to receive a capsule, said apertures being arranged in groups, each containing a predetermined number of apertures, the distance between apertures of adjacent groups being greater than the distance between apertures of the same group, and supporting means extending outwardly from each face of said board for supporting the latter in spaced relation relative to a supporting surface on which the device may be positioned, with either face up, whereby capsules inserted in the apertures will rest upon the supporting surface and be laterally supported by said board, the supporting means on one side of the latter being shorter than the supporting means on the other side thereof, whereby the board may be selectively spaced at either of two different distances from the supporting surface, for supporting capsules of different lengths.

4. In a device for supporting and facilitating the counting of capsules, the combination of a substantially flat rectangular capsule receiving board of relatively thin material, having a plurality of apertures therein, each adapted to receive a capsule, said apertures being arranged in four groups, each containing twenty-five apertures arranged in five rows of five apertures each, the distance between apertures of adjacent groups being greater than the distance between apertures of the same group, corresponding rows of each group being aligned with each other, and peripheral supporting members adjacent each edge of the board and extending outwardly from each face of said board for supporting the latter in spaced relation relative to a supporting surface on which the device may be positioned, with either face up, whereby capsules inserted in the apertures will rest upon the supporting surface and be laterally supported by said board,

the portions of th supporting members on one side of the board being shorter than the portions of supporting members on the other side thereof whereby the board may be selectively spaced at either of two different distances from the supporting surface, for supporting capsules of different lengths.

RICHARD H. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED Number Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Luden Aug. 21, 1917 Baehr June 18, 1918 Liohtman Feb. 13, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Feb. 22, 1899 

